Jayhawks expecting biggest crowds ever

By Chuck Woodling     Apr 28, 2001

Rarely do they hang the SRO sign out at Jayhawk Field, home of Kansas University’s softball team.

Yet seats will probably be at a premium for people who attend this weekend’s series against defending NCAA champion Oklahoma.

When: 1 p.m. today and Sunday.Where: Jayhawk Field.Today’s Pitchers: KU’s Kara Pierce (20-7) vs. OU’s Jennifer Stewart (26-3).Records: OU 38-7, 12-2 Big 12; KU 30-21, 9-4 Big 12.

“We’re bringing in every set of portable bleachers we can find,” KU coach Tracy Bunge said. “I don’t know if we’ll find enough seats.”

Games are scheduled for 1 p.m. both today and Sunday.

“I’m hoping for the biggest crowds we’ve ever had,” Bunge said.

Officially, Jayhawk Field seats 1,000, but that number may be a reach. Parking could also be a problem because 15 high school teams are expected.

“That’s another problem,” Bunge said, “finding parking spaces for 15 school buses.”

Most of the fans have been attracted by OU’s NCAA championship status, but the Sooners also figure to draw a large throng from Topeka because OU senior first baseman Lisa Carey, a two-time All-American, is a Washburn Rural product.

Adding to the luster is Kansas’ surprising resurgence. Oklahoma has a 12-2 record in Big 12 Conference games both losses were at Nebraska while Kansas is 9-4 after finishing a dismal 5-13 in conference games last season.

In other words, Kansas could be competitive.

“Our kids believe right now,” Bunge said. “Our team believes we can win, and that’s a difference in attitude than we’ve had when we’ve played Oklahoma the last two years.”

Last year in Norman, the Sooners swept Kansas, 11-3 and 6-2. Carey hit two homers and drove in seven runs in the first game.

“Offensively, Oklahoma is the best team in the Big 12,” Bunge said. “One through nine in their lineup they can hit the ball out of the park. They have tremendous athletes.”

Oklahoma has won 11 straight and leads the Big 12 in team batting (.343), runs (293), hits (410), home runs (40) and RBI (258).

In addition to Carey, who has 14 doubles, six home runs and is hitting .419, Oklahoma has the league’s leading hitter in shortstop Kelli Braitsch (.441) and the league’s No. 2 home run hitter in catcher Ashli Bennett.

Kansas features the league’s leading home run hitter in Leah Tabb, an Oklahoma City native who has a school-record 12 round-trippers, one more than Bennett. Tabb smashed two home runs last Wednesday at Creighton.

Kansas most likely won’t have two-time All-Big 12 outfielder Shelly Musser, who has been nursing a back injury for more than two weeks. Musser played three innings against Creighton.

“We gave her two at-bats to get her some game time, but she’s struggling,” Bunge said. “It’s very frustrating for Shelly right now.”

Kansas will send freshman Kara Pierce (20-7, 1.66 ERA) to the mound today against OU’s Jennifer Stewart (26-3, 1.32 ERA). Bunge said she is undecided on Sunday’s pitcher.

PREV POST

6News report: Frederick aftermath

NEXT POST

1401Jayhawks expecting biggest crowds ever